*SERIOUS QUESTION.......

afrolatina, you are on this hair thing girl!  Thanks so much for all the advice! Your suggestions sound great and I may have to try out a few of the products you recommended. I do clarify about 1x per month or whenever I feel like I have buildup. Honestly, I'm tried of "playing around" w/products trying to find the right combo--adding here, detracting there! Can a girl just get beautiful, healthy hair w/ little or NO effort!!???  Definitely trying to simplify--you wouldn't believe all the products in my bath closet! I've been reduced to sneaking bags in the house so my husband won't see them--although he comments when my hair looks nice or tells me "honey, your hair is really growing", he's so over the hair/product buying thing w/ me!

I've been wanting to try the Salerm, but I hate using my cc online(leery of my info being out there!). Anyway, I'm still fine tuning my regimen so we'll see how it goes from here.

Thanks again ladies for all the info--you guys are so helpful!

Sorry...another long post:

Saw this article also. I used the Hask Placenta years ago as a poor college student.  I hope the word gets around about these products.  Truly scary since most people are really uninformed about hair / beauty product ingredients.  I know I was until very recently when I began reading the boards.  And as much information as there is, I still feel that I am ingorant, I am most certainly not an expert by any means.  Good catch Sakura! 

Browneyez, your regimen sounds ok to me. 

What I think could be a possible cause is that products are building up.  NTM condish has cones.  Not sure about cholesterol treatment but some have mineral oil.  I know that when I used cholesterol condish, it seemed to leave a residue on my hair.  I still feel this way when I use Hollywood Carrot Oil which has cholesterol as an ingredient, but it is not as noticible to me as with the cream cholesterol treatments.  I would consider an ACV rinse or a use a clarifying shampoo.  Also, I would add a different conditioner to the regimen (use maybe 1-2x mos), preferably something without cones or cholesterol, mineral oil.  If you don't find a cone free / cholesterol free condish that you like, try to find one that has only one cone...just try to cut back a bit on one or all of these ingredients. 

Switching back & forth between products is not always a bad thing if you know the products work for your hair and when to use each.  I use the Carrot Oil more so when I am stretching my relaxers as I find that my hair benefits from the cholesterol when I have the two textures.  Also when my hair feels extra dry..if I have been swimming or wear my hair "curly" for a few days it tends to become drier, then the carrot oil is again the perfect remedy. 

I don't know if you have this already but I would add Porosity Control Conditioner to your regimen (use after relaxer).  Also if you can swing it, try one of the Dominican Conditioners like Salerm Balsam or Kuz or Alto Ego (the garlic condish is very good).  Or, for minimal $ I would invest in a small bottle of Elucence.  Use a condish like Suave or HE or V05 and use Elucence as a leave in.  I think this combo could be great (may have to try this myself). 

And in case you haven't figured out yet, I LOVE L'Occitanne Hair Care Oil and Carol's Daughter Healthy Hair Butter.  This has been a great combo for me.  These plus the addition of Elucence to my regimen has tranformed my hair totally.  You can probably for much less money find the ingredients and make your own version of the l'Ocitanne oil (olive oil, jojoba oil, rosemary, ....)  Can find ingredient list on internet.  For some reason, these products just seem to agree with my hair and improve the texture and do not ever get the heavy, thick greasy look (well ok gets a little bit but only after like 5 or 6 days).

Just my $.02. 

BrownEyez2 wrote: Thanks ladies! I'm lost! I was thinking with the look & feel of my hair that it was probably lacking more moisture. I do the Apoghee treatment every 6wks. Do you think I'd need more protein than that? SistaSlick, from your description of needing more protein--my hair doesn't feel overly soft, mushy or break when wet. So I don't have that probably. Maybe it is more moisture that it needs. afrolatina, the products that I use CURRENTLY(I need to stop changing-that may be the problem) --NTM poo/cond; Lekair Cholesterol/Henna Placenta/or ORS olive oil pak for deep cond; I use ORS Olive Oil (jar), Organics liquid hair mayo (just purch), FOTE, Hollywood Beauty carrot oil or organic coconut oil (oils to seal). Any other suggestions?  I'm still on the hunt to find just the right products for my hair. Hopefully, I won't have to go thru too much more trail and error to get there.

And another Link that might be of interest  ( the link to the article) http://www.newpittsburghcourier.com/index.php?article=10522

Hey BrownEyez -

I am curious to know what products you are using?  Sometimes my hair reacts this way when products I am using stop working or turn out to just be the wrong products for my hair. 

You asked how others know what their hair "needs":

In my case, my hair tends to be great for a couple of days and then gets gets drier as the days go on.  So the most I can go between washes is 1wk.  Usually with my regular wash / condition / leave in routine my hair does fine.  Sometimes though if I neglect it or if I have abused it, it really shows.

When my hair seems weak (like excessive shedding or lots of little hairs on clothes) then I know I need a treatment like Emergencee or a hot oil / deep treatment followed by a good moisturizing, detangling conditioner, roller set, moisturize.. 

If my hair just feels unusually dry (crunchy), I know it needs moisture so I DT, leave-in, roller set, moisturize. 

If my hair does not like any of the products I use on it, then it shows.  If I suspect this then I elimitate the product(s) that I think are contributing to problem.  As a week or two pass, my hair usually will improve.

Lastly, I was FRYING my hair with regular curling iron use. My hair was so dry and crunchy and oddly, could not hold a curl & would always get really frizzy on the ends (lack of moisture).  My hair has vastly improved since I stopped using.  Now I save for when I just need to fix a stray curl.

Hope this helps.  Remind us again about your routine (products / styling tools, etc).  There may be something there that could be contributing ..

BrownEyez2 wrote: I ask because one side of my hair is sort of dry, coarse and wiry looking

Sounds like you need a very good deep conditioning followed up with consistent daily moisture.  For me, I can best tell when I need more protein when my hair is wet.  If your hair feels overly soft, mushy, and breaks easily when wet-- then you need to bump up the protein.  For now it just sounds like something deep conditioning will easily correct.

Okay, how do you determine what your hair "needs"?  Such as more/less protein, conditioning, moisturizing, etc.  Is there a certain "look" or feel to the hair when it's lacking/or getting too much of something? I ask because one side of my hair is sort of dry, coarse and wiry looking (the left side-which also tends to be the thickest and grows slower!). Anyway, with that description what would you say it "needs"? I know everyone's hair is different, etc, etc, but what do you think/suggest?

~tia~